AP® American Government and Politics
Summer Reading Assignment
There are three parts to your summer assignment for AP Government for the 2014-2015 school
year and is due the first day of class: January 31 (A day) or January 30 (B day).
First, please pay close attention to the news during the summer as it pertains to the government.
Second, you will read In Our Defense: the Bill of Rights in Action by Ellen Alderman and Caroline
Kennedy and write a critical Book Review following the directions given below.
You may purchase your book at any of several local stores. If possible, I encourage you to purchase a
used book, but that is, of course, up to you. I get most of my books from Addall.com (my favorite place
to get used books), Amazon.com or Half-Price Books, but you can use any bookstore you choose.
 Be prepared for class discussion and comprehension quiz 1st day of class
 Complete a book review using the following directions
 These two assignments are due the first day of class and is worth 2 test grades with a possible 100
points each (100 points for the book review and 100 points from the questions over the book).
 AP Government Book Review Formato Type your name, AP Government, class period and date in the upper left hand corner of
the first page. The body of the review will be typed, double-spaced, using Times New
Roman, Calibri, or Arial regular, size 12 point font.
o
Two (2) spaces below your name begin with a full bibliographic entry for the book you are
reviewing. This is the title of the assignment.
o
The following is an example. Of course, you would use the information from the book.
Wheelan, Charles. Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science. New York: W.W.
Norton Co., 2002.
*Note that this entry is single spaced with a hanging indentation.
o
First Paragraph (Author’s credibility)
Give the authors’ qualifications for writing the book. Include pertinent information about
education, experience, and research activities. There are a number of reference books in the
library where information about authors may be found. Contemporary Authors is one of the
best sources of information. You may be able to find information on the author on-line using
any popular search engines.
(Note: on the first use of the author’s name use the full name: James W. Loewen,
thereafter use the author’s last name only-Loewen).
o
Second Paragraph (Summary)
Give a brief summary of the book. Use no more than five or six sentences. Stay general.
Remember: This is a critical evaluation of the book. This is NOT a book report.
o
Third Paragraph (Authors’ Thesis)
Explain why the author wrote this book. What is the author trying to prove? In other words,
what is the thesis of the book? How does he prove the thesis (Use specific examples)? This
is often the most difficult part of the review. If help is needed, refer to other reviews if they
are available. Check historical journals, the New York Times Book Reviews, or Book Review
Digest. If you use other reviewer’s ideas be sure to credit them. Plagiarism is a
serious crime, punishable by academic death and other consequences.
o
Fourth Paragraph (Positive criticism)
What did the author do well? Was the book clearly written? Did the author prove his thesis?
Was the book logically organized, fast paced, balanced, and informative? How good was the
bibliography, index, and footnotes?
o
Fifth Paragraph (Negative criticism)
What did the author do poorly? What bias did you see in the book? Was reading this book
worth the time invested? How could the book have been made better?
o
Final Paragraph (Overall Assessment)
Give an overall assessment of the book. Did the good points outweigh the bad? Did the
author succeed in what he tried to accomplish?
Third, you will answer the following questions over each chapter of the book. Type your answers using
complete sentences and number them exactly as I have.
Questions over In Our Defense: the Bill of Rights in Action by Ellen Alderman and Caroline
Kennedy – answer and type using complete sentences, test grade worth 100 points total. Your paper
should be numbered like below.
AMENDMENT #1: Freedom of Speech
1) What is the “clear and present danger” test and how is it being reformulated?
2) Is the “marketplace of ideas” possible in the 21st century America?
Freedom of Press
3) Can and should the press be held accountable? To whom? Why?
Freedom of Religion
4) Clarify the establishment clause and the free exercise clause on the freedom of religion
Freedom of Assembly
5) When and why does the “right of assembly” become difficult?
6) How do the “right of association” and the “right to petition” relate to the “right to assemble”?
AMENDMENT #2: Right to Keep and Bear Arms
7) Distinguish between the “individual right” theory and the “collective right” theory on this
amendment. Where do you stand and why?
AMENDMENT #3: Quartering Troops
8) Why is this amendment sometimes called the “forgotten” amendment? Should it be? Why?
AMENDMENT #4: Unreasonable Search and Seizure
9) What are the parameters of a “reasonable search, and when can a search be “unreasonable”?
10) What qualifications has the Supreme Court placed on “probable cause” in issuing warrants?
AMENDMENT #5: Right to a Grand Jury Indictment
11) What are the pros and cons of the grand jury system?
Double Jeopardy
12) Outline the parameter of jeopardy. How does this relate to freedom and power?
Right against Self-Incrimination
13) How did this right originate? Is it necessary? Clarify reasons for and against.
14) How could this right be so well know and yet so unpopular?
AMENDMENT #6: Right to an Impartial Jury
15) Why was this section of the amendment included? What components are part of the “impartial
jury” requirement?
Right to Confront
16) What are the key features of the “right to confront”?
17) How essential to a fair trial is the “right to confront”? Why?
Right to Counsel
18) Why is the case of Gideon v. Wainright (1963) crucial to “right to counsel”?
19) How did Strickland v. Washington (1982) add to this provision?
AMENDMENT #7: Right to a Civil Jury
20) What is the difference between a civil and criminal trial?
21) Can juries in civil trials be fair? Can they be arbitrary?
22) Why was this “right” included in the first ten amendments?
23) What are some of the issues that have arisen in recent decades concerning civil juries? Why?
What do you think?
AMENDMENT #8: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
24) What standards has the Supreme Court used in determining “cruel and unusual punishment”?
AMENDMENT #9: Rights Retained by the People (Example: Privacy)
25) How is Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) crucial to a redefinition of this amendment?
26) What are the controversies surrounding this case?
AMENDMENT #10: Powers Reserved to the States (Example: Minimum Wage)
27) What have been the parameters involving this amendment in recent decades?
28) How do these impact the theory and practice of federalism?
Make sure that all of your papers have your name on them. Staple the pages of each assignment
together. There should be two separate stapled assignments: the book review and the questions over
the book. Please do not use any type of folder, sheet protectors, notebook, or other report cover. I just
want the papers stapled in the upper left-hand corner.
A Note on Academic Honesty- I take plagiarism very seriously! This school has an honor code,
which I also take very seriously! If I feel or find that you have plagiarized your papers or been
academically dishonest in any way, I will:
1. Notify your parents
2. Write a referral
3. Receive a “N” on your report card
4. Receive a zero for a test grade
Summer Book Review Scoring Rubric (100 pts.)
Category
Essay Format
Category
(1)
Author’s
Qualifications
(2)
Clear Summary
(3)
Author’s Thesis
8 pts
Followed ALL
format
instructions.
6 pts
4 pts
0 pts
Followed MOST
Followed SOME
Did not follow
format instructions. format instructions. instructions at all.
7 pts
5 pts
3 pts
0 pts
Cleary explains ALL
of the author’s
qualifications as
stated in the
instructions.
Cleary explains
MOST of the
author’s
qualifications as
stated in the
instructions.
Cleary explains
SOME author’s
qualifications as
stated in the
instructions.
Did not follow
instructions at all.
Summarizes the
book, but MOST is
vague or unclear.
Did not
summarize the
book.
Attempts to
identify Thesis,
however
misinterprets.
Does not identify
Thesis
Clearly summarizes Summarizes the
the book.
book, but PART is
vague or unclear.
Clearly identified
and understands
Thesis of the book
Vaguely identified
& understands
Thesis of the book
(4)
Positive Criticism
Gives positive
Gives positive
Gives positive
criticisms by
criticism by
criticism by
answering ALL
answering MOST
answering SOME
questions stated in questions stated in questions stated in
the instructions.
the instructions.
the instructions.
(5)
Negative Criticism
Gives negative
Gives negative
Gives negative
Does not give
criticism by
criticism by
criticism by
negative criticism
answering ALL
answering MOST
answering SOME
questions stated in questions stated in questions stated in
the instructions.
the instructions.
the instructions.
(6)
Overall Assessment
Gives a clear
The assessment is
assessment of the recognizable and
book
ties up almost all
the loose ends.
______/50 pts x 2 = _______ test grade
The assessment is
recognizable, but
does not tie up
several loose ends.
Does not give
positive criticism.
There is no clear
assessment, the
paper just ends.